Wade sits out again, raises plantar fasciitis concerns

SAN FRANCISCO — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra just about had it all.

"It was good," he said, "to have a full-scale, full-contact, full-padded practice. We haven't had one of these in a couple of weeks."

Of course, it would have been better to have a full roster available for Monday's session at the University of San Francisco, particularly his starting backcourt.

Of greatest concern was the continued absence of shooting guard Dwyane Wade, who has missed the past three games with what the team had termed a bruised left foot and now is questionable for the remaining three games of this five-game trip, which continues Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.

Asked Monday if Wade could possibility be suffering from plantar fasciitis, a far more debilitating ailment, neither Spoelstra nor Wade could rule it out.

Yet Spoelstra also would not rule out the possibility of Wade playing Tuesday.

"We gave him extra treatment this morning, and that's why he joined us late," Spoelstra said. "But he is getting better. He's feeling better. Hopefully he'll be able to go through the shootaround [Tuesday] and then we'll evaluate him.

"It's mostly a bruise. And down there, when you get kicked a lot of times, it can feel like plantar fasciitis. But he's feeling better and we're able to give him extended rest and treatment and we'll have to see how he feels."

Mostly, Wade feels like a player itching to get back on the court, but one also dealing with uncertainty, unable to rule out plantar fasciitis.

"It's just hurting," he said. "It could be three different things. That's one of them. The bruise is one of 'em. Maybe it's a combination. I just know that it's in the area of the plantar fascia and I know it's bruised, as well. Whatever it is, it's just taking its course, taking its time to get healthy."

Wade was injured two weeks ago against the Charlotte Bobcats, when he said a player stepped on his foot. He sat out at the start of the second half of that game, returned to hit the game-winning shot, played the next three games, and now has missed the past three.

Also missing from Monday's session was point guard Mario Chalmers, who bruised his left shoulder early in Saturday's victory over the New Jersey Nets, returning later in that game.

"With our schedule coming up, we wanted to give him this day of rest with his shoulder," Spoelstra said. "He should be able to play. He's intending to play."

Chalmers said "soreness" is his only lingering issue.

Mostly, Spoelstra stressed Monday as a day of his team coming together. Power forward Udonis Haslem continued to work through a cracked rib sustained Dec. 30 in Minnesota and forward Mike Miller and center Eddy Curry participated in the full workout.

Miller had been sidelined since preseason hernia surgery, while Curry dropped out of practice the first weekend of camp because of a hip flexor and conditioning issues. Spoelstra said both would need additional workouts before dressing for games.

"Eddy practiced, even full contact, which was very encouraging," Spoelstra said. "Mike Miller practiced. Both of them, we'll have to continue to evaluate. Today was encouraging, but we'll see how they feel [Tuesday] and as we move forward. It is big-picture thinking with them. We are not rushing anything with those two."

Miller was enthused to be back, even with Spoelstra tempering talk of an imminent return.

"Obviously there's some soreness there, but that's to be expected," Miller said. "I'm ready to play. I understand it's a long season. I'm going to listen to these guys and they'll put me out there when it's ready."

Curry was similarly encouraged.

"It felt great, not only just physically, but just mentally, after being on the bike for so long, to finally get out there with these guys," he said.

The greatest concern remains Wade, and that had LeBron James telling his teammate to take all the time he needed.

"We'd rather get him back when he's healthy," he said. "We got enough guys that will pick it up if he can't play. And when D-Wade's ready to play and when he's healthy, he'll be in a Heat uniform.

"But we don't want him out there until he's 100 percent, until he feels he's ready. Guys will continue to step up."